In his column discussing proposed school bonds for capital improvements, Dick Hilker speculated how Jeffco Public Schools funds would be used without speaking to our staff or board. He suggested that a significant portion of the bond proceeds would be used for deferred maintenance and not long-term improvements.

Hilker specifically mentions Jeffco schools and implies that bond dollars would be used to “pay for new carpeting, painting of existing classrooms, furniture, air conditioners or equipment that might have to be replaced before they are paid for … .”

Jeffco schools is committing $120 million or six years of the annual deferred maintenance funds that are used for some of those needs. Combining these funds with potential bond proceeds addresses both long-term and deferred-maintenance projects. The Board of Education public presentation of June 16 outlined this commitment.

Jeffco schools has used this approach in numerous past bonds because it is a prudent use of taxpayer dollars, creating projects that contain both deferred maintenance and long-term improvements. The results are the efficient use of consultants, reducing construction overhead, and minimizing the number of times a school undergoes construction.

“Deferred maintenance” can be building systems whose life cycle extends beyond the repayment of 20-year bonds. Doors, windows, roofs, site work, as well as larger electrical and mechanical equipment are appropriately funded by capital dollars. System replacement frees annual deferred maintenance funds that can be spent on paint, carpet, furniture, etc., instead of systems that have exceeded their life cycle.

The median age of schools in Jeffco is 45 years; the 12 million-square-foot real estate portfolio’s replacement value is $2.7 billion; building and educational deficiencies exceed $500 million. Jeffco schools’ Facility Master Plan makes a number of recommendations including improved utilization, replacing buildings that are educationally inadequate and a drain on resources, and constructing new facilities to accommodate growth. The plan recommends deferred maintenance to many buildings.

Steve Bell is chief operations officer for Jeffco Public Schools. Tim Reed is executive director of facilities and construction management.

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